Adviser to consider bankers' offer from absolute view

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday said he would consider the whole issue of bankers' offer to reduce the lending rate and interest rate spread from absolute point of view.
He said he would look into the absolute lending rate and the actual spread between the lending and deposit rates, as the bankers decided to cut the lending rate by one plus percentage point.
The finance adviser said he would first see the proposal and talk to the Bangladesh Bank governor on the issue, as the governor has been assigned to look into the matter.
As per the bankers' proposal submitted to the Bangladesh Bank on Monday, the average lending rate would be reduced by one plus percentage point to 14.75-15.00 percent from the existing average of 16 percent.